“That’s what I told him, sir.”
“Well, what did he say?”
“That I was an old fool, sir.”
“Tut—tut—tut!” ejaculated Van Heldre; “but he must be paid. I can’t let him lose the money.”
“What I told him, sir. I said we couldn’t let him lose the money.”
“What did he say to that?”
“Called me an old fool again much stronger, sir. Most ungentlemanly—used words, sir, that he must have picked up on the beach.”
“I hardly like to trouble him directly he is back; but would you mind sending up to Mr Luke Vine, with my compliments, and asking him to come here.”
“Send at once, sir?”
“At once.”